Overview

Are you a budding scientist, ready to expand your knowledge and learn how to use biological chemistry to revolutionise research and explore the fascinating world of molecules, genes and cells?

On this BSc (Hons) Biochemistry degree course, you'll explore life at its most fundamental level. You’ll examine the way cells and molecules work and discover how this knowledge can help fight disease, edit genomes, develop new sources of fuel and biofuels, and explain human and animal development.

Fully accredited by the Royal Society of Biology, this course can lead to career paths in academic and industrial research, teaching, forensic science, the biotech and pharmaceutical industries, and the health service. On completion you can apply for Associate Membership of the Royal Society of Biology.

Accredited by

This course is fully accredited by the Royal Society of Biology. This means it's recognised in the industry and assures future employers that you have the knowledge and skills needed for a successful career in biochemistry.

92% Graduates in work or further study
(DLHE, 2017)

100% Overall student satisfaction
(NSS, 2018)

What you'll experience

On this degree course, you'll:

Learn to become a professional scientist with the latest theory backed up by lab training

Study genes and cells, how they work at molecular level and clone DNA in practical classes

Understand the role of biochemistry in developing fuel and biofuels, fighting disease, and researching animal and human development

Learn from academic staff who are doing trailblazing research into epigenetics, developmental biology, molecular biology, microbiology and molecular biophysics

Get involved with the European Xenopus Resource Centre, one of the largest frog resource facilities in the world

Access our molecular biology research labs, globally regarded as some of the best available at a university

Use the latest tech such as X-ray diffractometers, nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers and instrumentation for protein purification

Have the opportunity to apply to the Erasmus+ exchange scheme, which involves a summer research placement at a European university

Careers and opportunities

There are many career paths a BSc (Hons) Biochemistry degree can lead you to. Previous students have gone on to do valuable work in fields such as:

industrial research

academic research leading to a PhD

biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries

science teaching

the health service

scientific writing and the media

There is a lot of practical work which helps me to learn, as you can put into practice what you have learnt in your lectures and see it first hand.

Georgina Dawes, BSc (Hons) Biochemistry

What you'll study on this BSc (Hons) Biochemistry degree course

Each unit on this course is worth a certain number of credits, usually 20 or 40.

In each year, you need to study units worth a total of 120 credits. For example, 4 units worth 20 credits and 1 unit worth 40 credits.

Units currently being studied

Core units in this year include:

Introduction to Cell Biology and Biochemistry

Biodiversity and Evolution

Microbiology and Molecular Biology

Perspectives in Biochemistry

Experimental Biology

Graduate Skills 1

There are no optional units in this year.

Core units in this year include:

Cell Biology

Genetic Engineering

Macromolecules

Enzymes and Metabolism

Optional units in this year currently include:

Development: How Form and Function Changes

Microbiology

Business for Bioscience

A Foreign Language

Core units in this year include:

Honours Project

Gene Organisation and Expression

Genes and Development

Biomolecular Science

Optional units in this year currently include:

Genomics in Molecular Medicine

Biotechnology

We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.

Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry and some optional units may not run every year. If a unit doesn’t run, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative unit.

Work experience and career planning

To give you the best chance of securing a great role when you graduate, our Careers and Employability service can help you find relevant work experience during your course.

We can help you identify placements, internships and voluntary roles that will complement your studies.

Learning support

As well as support by faculty teaching staff and your personal tutor, you can use the University’s Academic Skills Unit (ASK).

ASK provides one-to-one support in areas such as:

academic writing

note taking

time management

critical thinking

presentation skills

referencing

working in groups

revision, memory and exam techniques

If you have a mental or physical disability, the Additional Support and Disability Centre (ASDAC) can give you help, support and advice so you can reach your potential.

Teaching

Teaching methods on this course include:

workshops

lectures

computer classes

seminars

practical lab work

one-on-one tutorials

How you'll spend your time

Each academic year is divided into 2 teaching blocks and 2 assessment periods:

September to December – teaching block 1

January – assessment period 1

January to May – teaching block 2 (includes Easter break)

May to June – assessment period 2

Most teaching takes place during the day, Monday to Friday. You may occasionally need to go to University and course events in the evenings and at weekends.

There’s usually no teaching on Wednesday afternoons.

How you're assessed

You’ll be assessed through:

coursework, essays and write-ups

presentations

online exams

data analysis problems

research project

written exams

multiple choice tests

You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.

You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.

The way you’re assessed may depend on the units you select. As a guide, students on this course last year were typically assessed as follows:

Year 1 students: 53% by written exams, 7% by practical exams and 40% by coursework

Year 2 students: 65% by written exams, 3% by practical exams and 32% by coursework

Year 3 students: 42% by written exams, 3% by practical exams and 55% by coursework

Entry requirements​

Entry Requirements

Qualifications or experience

112 points to include 3 A levels, or equivalent, including Biology and Chemistry, with 40 points from either A level Biology or Chemistry. Applicants will normally need to pass the separate Science Practical Endorsement

If you're from outside of the UK, you can apply for this course through UCAS (see the 'How to apply' section above for details). You can also apply directly to us or you can get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region.

To find out what to include in your application, head to the how to apply page of our international students section.